Another day and another decision made by Dejphon Chansiri that left Sheffield Wednesday fans disappointed and angry in equal measure. The Owls owner is coming under increasing pressure and he’s not helping himself.
The price of football has spiralled out of control. For context, this isn’t a Sheffield Wednesday issue per se, it’s one that is crippling football from a fan perspective.
The Owls currently sit bottom of the Championship. They’ve not won any of their opening eight matches and were knocked out of the Carabao Cup by Mansfield Town.
Now, ahead of Friday’s game with Sunderland, Chansiri has risked the wrath of the Wednesday faithful once again, after some alarming ticket prices emerged.
Chansiri annoys Wednesday fan base once more
Is there any end to the madness? Very few clubs have managed to alienate the fan base a mere 121 days after they celebrated at Wembley quite like Chansiri has managed to do at Wednesday.
Josh Windass sending 44,000 Wednesdayites into pandemonium with his 121st-minute goal was supposed to spark a redemption. Now, just months later, the Owls are staring at a return to League One.
Now, he’s left the club’s suffering supporters disgruntled. This time, ticket prices are in the firing line, with Wednesday among the most expensive in the division.
For this weekend’s televised game against Sunderland, the prices have come under scrutiny. For students, a ticket will set them back a staggering £40 in the South Stand.
Some students will probably do a night out in Sheffield and finish at the Leadmill for £40. It’s hard to believe that many will be in attendance on Friday having been forced to fork out that amount.
If that wasn’t bad enough, the Armed Forces are being charged the same price. Other clubs often let people who have served their country in free of charge but Chansiri can’t miss out on making another buck!
Chansiri needs help at Hillsborough
The conception from the owner’s perspective is that it’s his club and he can do as he pleases with it. Whilst that is true, a football club is nothing without the supporters.
Right now, the owner is using a proud football club as a toy to self-promote his own business interests and the self-indulgent nature of his ownership is set to lead to protests.
Wednesday fans will have to be careful what they wish for. However, with things currently going so badly on the field, these tone-deaf decisions away from it are only going to cause more angst in the Hillsborough stands.